Tested on my birthday

[jay]

Was the first day of testing in my Human Operated Robotic Science Evaluation (HORSE) project. It was stressful getting ready... I was being a bit overbearing with the remote science team, who were asking for last-minute changes (past their deadline for such). The file transfer route was changed once again to enable hopeforyou's automated scripts to run, while getting full satellite data throughput (70-80 KBytes/sec or so). It worked, although there were some actions done manually. We finally went out to the wilderness around 4pm, and ran simulated Mars rover operations for three hours. Reasonably successfully. Team members seem a bit relieved, de-stressed, and bone-tired...

I got lots of happy-birthday email today -- 15 different people, plus LiveJournal, plus cards from L and Vicky and J. My sister Vicky left me a present in camp -- two bags of truffles, some Irish creme, and a sweater. I was *very* surprised...

After the simulation was done (we missed dinner) I had a piece of Valrhona birthday cake that I had smuggled in from home. And a dozen of my friends here sat outside in the midnight sun, brought out several bottles, and toasted my birthday. And camp life, and this barren, harshly-beautiful place.

Comments

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

Happy belated (by four minutes), my dear. I'm glad it was lovely, despite the distance.

-J

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Thanks, dear! And I read part of "Contradictions"... :-)

[elynne.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a totally awesome birthday. :D Hard, rewarding work on something you love; lots of expressions of friendship, and an unexpected gift; experiencing the wonders of life with trusted companions. I hope I have such a memorable (in a good way!) birthday someday.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

You have it exactly right. And it was memorable, and (lifting glass) may you have something like it someday!

science study

[purplejavatroll.livejournal.com]

Very happy (late) birthday greetings to you! I always think that it's a odd (and not terribly nice) present for you to have to spend your birthday away from your family. Still, if you have to do that, at least you've got a glamourous place to spend it!

pjt

Re: science study

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

And I get to see delightful friends, en route :-)

[purplecthulhu.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday!

I've spent a few of mine away observing etc., but it must be a bind doing it year after year.

You should've said something on Friday!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I was not-entirely-there on Friday evening... actually, the birthday up here is becoming a peculiar tradition, after four years ;-).

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday! Did Vicky go to camp?

What is Valrhona birthday cake? Is it `merely' made with their chocolate (!) or is it a very special recipe as well??

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Vicky was actually here for two weeks -- she was the camp medical officer, filling on short notice for two M.D.'s that cancelled.

The birthday cake... is our own recipe, involving broken pieces of their chocolate in the batter, frosted with the same ganache that I used to make truffles last week. Intense!

[purpletigron.livejournal.com]

Mondo kewl :-)

Recipes

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Ahem. What do you mean "our" recipe, Kemosabe? : > Although, come to think of it, you did develop the cake part. BTW, the recipe for the cake Brian had for his birthday is as follows:



Pat's Ordination Truffle Cake (so named because I first developed the icing recipe for the ordination of a friend to the Episcopal priesthood)

1 box devil's food cake mix (and stuff listed on back, eggs, etc.)
2 snack cups chocolate pudding

24 ounces good quality bitter- or semisweet chocolate (Ghiradelli or Vahlrona)
12 Ounces heavy whipping cream

Chocolate leaves (melted chocolate painted on citrus leaves, cooled until solid, then the leaves are peeled away)



Make cake according to directions, except add the pudding. Cook until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove from pans and let cool completely.

Chop the chocolate fine, using a knife or food processor. Heat whipping cream until it just begins to boil, stirring frequently. Pour over chocolate. Let sit ten minutes. Whisk until the cream is completely incorporated. Let sit until cooler but not stiff.

Carefully slice the layers in half, so you have four thin layers. I am really bad with proportions, so all I can say is place a layer on your cake plate, put some ganache on it, repeat two times. Place final layer, and frost top and sides with the ganache. (You'll need to figure out the proportions). Decorate with Chocolate Leaves.

One warning: this does not always come out looking pretty. (Aesthetically, I think one in three looks like hell. The thin layers can be tricky to handle without tearing, and if you haven't let the ganache cool enough before you frost the cake, it tends to slide off) But I've never made one that didn't taste wonderful. It is *very* rich. The secret is to only use chocolate good enough to eat on its own.

[cjsmith.livejournal.com]

Ooo, happy birthday! The midnight sun sounds like a neat environment in which to raise a toast. :-)

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

It is a bit eerie... it feels like early in the morning, at dawn after an all-nighter, say... and thanks!

[kokoro43.livejournal.com]

Hippy Birdday!